Allin Family

The Allin Family

Swanzey, NH; Hardwick, MA

On March 23, 1784 the selectmen in the town of Swanzey, NH, voted to “warn out” a new family, the Allins.  A copy of the warning out resides in the New Hampshire State Archives.  It reads:

“Whereas a Negro male named Speed Allin and his wife named Sarah Allin, and ther children (viz) Betty, Jesse, Hannah, and Sarah Allin, have lately removed from Hardwick (crossed out), the county of Worcester, in the state of Massachusetts, into this town, and their circumstances and character is such that the selectment refuse to admit them to become inhabitants. In the name of the Government and People of this state, you are therefore required to otify and warn each and every of the persons named above forthwith to depart and leave this town..."

"Warning out" was a legal practice in 17th-18th century New England that allowed towns to formally notify and potentially remove individuals or families who might become dependent on public poor relief. This system was rooted in English poor laws and designed to protect towns from financial responsibility for supporting non-residents.  Families could remain in the community; however, they understood that they would not receive local aid if they were in need. 

The practice of warning out individuals and families died out in the early 19th century.  There are hundreds of warnings out documented in Cheshire County towns, typically in the early town records.  

Nothing more about the Allin family is known to date.

GENEALOGY

SPEED ALLIN was from MA. He married SARAH. They had: Betty, Jesse, Hannah, and Sarah Allin prior to the year 1787.

SOURCE MATERIALS

New Hampshire Department of State, Division of Archives and Records Management, Warnings Out Collection, Concord, NH.